The Premier Program Award recognizes accredited organizations that excel in the provision of continuing nursing education. They are the organizations that stand out and that function at a higher level, above and beyond their peers. These organizations provide models and act as exemplars to assist others in the field of continuing nursing education on their journeys towards excellence.

Program Operations and Eligibility Requirements

• Only ANCC-accredited organizations with no Interim Reports (formerly known as Progress Reports) required in the past six years may receive the Premier Program Award.
• The accredited organization must have no substantiated or unresolved complaints against it within the past three years.
• An organization may apply independently or may be encouraged to apply (based on feedback from appraisers, the ARC, or external sources).
• Premier Program designation will be valid for a two year period.
• The Premier Program Award will be presented only once per year.
• Premier Program Award will be presented only to those who demonstrate qualifications for it. If no applicant demonstrates such qualifications, the Premier Program Award will not be awarded for that year.
• There is no external limit placed on the number of organizations that may be awarded the Premier Program Award.
• There is no limit to the number of times an organization may earn the Premier Program Award.

Responsibilities of Premier Program Award Winners

• Mentor (not consult), as resources permit. Examples of mentorship might include – but are not limited to – responding to requests for feedback on a proposed implementation plan for one of the accreditation program criteria, providing guidance on determining a defensible method for calculating an appropriate number of contact hours to award for completion of an online CNE activity, offering advice on transition-planning in the Nurse Planner position.
• Publish/present/disseminate best practices. Presentation at the following year’s ANCC Accreditation Symposium is strongly encouraged.
• Develop and implement best practices.
• Assist ANCC to advance accredited continuing nursing education (serve on task forces, make recommendations, etc.).

Benefits to Premier Program Award Winners

• Registration at the following year’s ANCC Accreditation Symposium will be waived for presenters (up to three) from the Premier Program Award winning
  organization(s).
• Recognition at the annual ANCC symposium.
• Recognition on the ANCC web site.
• Recognition among peers.
• Press release from ANCC.
• Attractive award trophy will be presented by ANCC.
• Use of a special Premier Program Award logo.
• A limited number of special Premier Program Award silver foil stickers which can be applied to certificates, contracts, or other documents will be given to those organizations receiving the Premier Program designation. Additional stickers will be made available for purchase.
• 15% discount on next re-accreditation fee.

Timeline

• Deadline for application submission is January 31, 2009.
• Decisions will be made by March 27, 2009.
• Winner(s) will be notified of the decision by April 15, 2009.
• Premier Program Award recipients will be publicly announced at the Accreditation Symposium in 2009.
• Premier Program Award recipient(s) will have the opportunity to present, if possible, at the Symposium in 2009.

Decision-Making Process

• Applications will be limited to ten pages, typed into the space provided in the PDF document.
• Members of the decision panel for reviewing the Premier Program applications will be chosen by the Commission on Accreditation.
• Decisions will be made by consensus and based on the scores of the applications.

Application Information

To begin the process, download and fill out the application forms located below. A list of questions is provided to assist the applicant in identifying and providing the information sought by the Premier Program review panel.

The application fee has been set at $750.

Please submit the completed application form and fee to the following address:

Kathy Chappell, MSN, RN
Assistant Director of Accreditation Services
American Nurses Credentialing Center
8515 Georgia Ave, Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492